Blanked strip from which female contacts are to be formed
for electrical connecting system



Aug. 19, 1969 w EVANS Re. 26, 6

BLANKED STRIP FROM WHICH FEMALE CONTACTS ARE. TO BE FORMED FOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTING SYSTEM 9 Shams-Sheet 1 Original Filed Aug. 16,

Aug. 19, 1969 w. R. EVANS Re. 26,646

BLANKED STRIP mom wmcu FEMALE counc'rs ARE Tn BE FORMED ma ELECTRICAL CONNECTING SYSTEM Original Filed Aug. 16.

9 Sheets-Sheet L.

Re. 26,646 ICH FEMALE CONTACTS ARE TO BE FORMED FOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTING SYSTEM Mill-n51 H.106 Aug. 16, 1963 Aug. 19. 1969 w. R. EVANS aumxzu mm mm ma 9 Sheets-Shut 3 Aug. 19, 1969 w. R EVANS Re. 26,646

BLANKED STRH PROM WHICH FEMALE CONTACTS AM: TO BE FORMED FOR ELECTRICAL commc'rmo SYSTEM Original Filed Aug 16, 1963 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Aug. 19, 1969 w, R EVANS Rfi. 26,646

BLANKED STRIP FROM WHICIH FEMALE CONTACTS ARE TO BE FORMED FOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTING SYSTEM Original Filed Aug. 16. 1963 9 Sheets-5heat 5 Re. 26,645 r m FORMED 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 mm rm w. R EVANS Re. 26,646 MALE CONTACTS ARE TO BE FORMED comasc'rmc SYSTEM 9 Sheets-Sheet Aug. 19, 1969 BLANKED STRIP FROM WHICH FE FOR ELECTRICAL Original Filed Aug. 16. 1963 All. 19, 1969 w, EVANS Re. 26,646

BLANKED STRIP FROM WHICH FEMALE CONTACTS ARE TO BE FORMED FOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTING SYSTEM Original riled Aug. 18. 1963 9 Shuts-Shout 8 Aug. 19, 1969 W. BLANKED STRIP FROM WHICH R. EVANS FOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTING SYSTEM Original Filed Aug. 16. 1963 FEMALE CONTACTS ARL TO BE FORMED 9 Shasta-Shoat 9 United States Patent 0 Mutter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in the original patent but forms no part of this reissue specification: matter printed in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

ABSTRtCT OF THE DISCLOSURE .4 hftltlllttl strip from which female K'HHHHIY me to l t" formal rwmpriu'u: it pfurcu'tn of unit blunts joiner! hi (i .stri'p of l'tlffit'fll material, tlltl l uni! in'unk hri'uig (lilo/ ut! to In" tornzrt! into a emwmlly Iu/mlur rouflew-anon.

'l'hit application is Il division of my Copendin application sour No t'tlfwfi' tiled Augmt in, N63, now Pulent No "1 0,151.

lht' intention zelutes to :in electrical etuyneetim; mtem. ttli l. more particularly. to an eleettiezt- Li llTlLL'lllltE yitern hr uhieh relatively inetpensite motlulemay he uuieltl ttnd elleetitely L'UflllCClL'tl to eomlueto|- on pi llllltl \g eireuil means. \ltelt to. w-eulled mother-cards or hoard.

Alth ugh there are eettttiu electrical eonneeting: sulenn [IDA tonili le for intereonneetint; relatively w en \ive module unto to primary second eonduetort curried hy various type of supporting. menm. it iQ the principal purpwe (if the pro-em intention to prtnide telzititel t inexnenme module mean. by uhieh. tor example, the elee trietil .trnponcnu gtmplising the modulet mitt he mounb ed upon iutpihle i. e\ of printed circuit hearth and direetl conneetetl to the eonduetnrs thereon. 'lhe inn-tr tion zt o ineludes tiniuue male and temule eonneelot te- \(Ktill fiil emplo ted on the modulefl and ptimuiy cireuit menu. \tltl tonduetors being relatively llCtlilD in the udnptution thereof to many ditlerent kinds of eireuitt. Ztlltl ptu'tiuilztrly for permitting the attacking or sunduiching of a plurality of modules upon eaeh other and heine Ll piihle of quick intereonnection eommonly to sulwtuntizil lenetlnof nitric eonttiets. for example. which pa suceewxel: llllillltllt it "wCl'lCQ of female contztels YL i' Ct ll-t.ly untied the module hozudfi,

it lw illlUlllL'l ohieel of the invention to ptmide eoutztet nrruneemenrw llllll may he mounted \uitzthly either upon muulntinu \llL'Ct'Hf tJ supporting; meml erx. \ueh thprinted titeuit huuitlx or steel ehmsis, in \tell it the mute heirlg adapted to puiut-topoint wiring techniques.

A further UlJCLI of the invention is to to construct CSPCClttllY the female contacts that they are vanity and quieltly eonneeed to module members eomprhine printed eireuit ezutls or hoardx simply by inserting tine on the female eontaetx in punched holes formed in the card or hottrtl. ttfitl then ehnehing and soldering the projeetine emit of the tines to LltLllll eonduetorfi on the cards or iFUllTtlQ. said femtle eontncts also being preferably of :i IQllill lg crowweetiou and open from end to end. wherehy mule eontiiet prunes or tulw. may he arranged to pas through \Llllill'llc openings in the printed circuit card or hoard and then he teeeited within the hollow or tuhulztr lemtile eontnet to tllLei :i ereuit connection therewith.

A\ it emolizu'y to the foregoing object. it is it further liti Re. 25,646 Reisauecl Aug. 19, 1969 ice ohjeet to so tll'ritl'tl'C the female cuntaet's and the tine; thereon that \nid contacts readily either may be connected with the mew thereof perpendicular, or parallel, to thC plane of the printed circuit card or board. thereby permitting the hitter to he plugged and thus he connected to primtuy eireuit means when extending either edgeuiwe or parallel to snid primary circuit means.

Still another objeet of the invention is to provide unique mule contacts uhieh. essentially. are preferably bllbb'tllflllttlly H-shaped and are stamped from suitable sheet meal, and the oppoxite ends of the sides of the male contacts may he connected to primary circuit means. such 3Q a sucalled mother-eurd. \thieh may be formed either of inulziting material or steel. through the employment of simple molded hzt se member: to which the mnle contacts are connected direetly. the male cont-lets being programmahle by selectively shearing or stripping certain prongs or tn! therefrom ltielt are not required for a specitie zip plieulion and such formation of male Contact permits the mine to be adapted to n ldtl variety of interconnection ot circuits on module boards or cards. for example.

A still further ohjeet of the invention is to prmide connecting mean on the female cont-net in such manner than \Etltl L'Otlltltl\ may he mounted on the name surface of the modulnr printed eireuit card or hoard as the eleetri eitl eomponeno of lite module llI'C mounted. whereby the tonttuetou of the module are on the opposite surface f the t'ttfll or hoard. and the leads from the electrical compuflBttts. to \tell :o. the tines for conneeting the female kl nli!\l\ lo the hotutl, extend through suitithle holes or openings in the honrd and thei'ehy permit the firm L'ttfint-ttion of the piuieetint: ends of the leads or tines to the Lllttlll eondttttom on \uid oppmite s de of the lwaud t tllllklllll' and \olderine. Sueh connection advantageously may he made throtreh flow-solder or dip-solder teehniquen.

Still another ol jeet of the invention is to form e peeittlly the female eontiie a from n blanked strip or ribbon of ruilient metal turd comprising marginal strips hetneen ultieh eontitet unit bltmlts extend ITZtItMCTbClY and. depending upon nhether the connecting tines of the eontitets tire to he till tit one end or the other. for veltitttl mounting of the eontnet \xitlt re peet to a supportinh hottrdv or both of the eontuetK are to etlend transversely from one side hereof at opposite ends for parallel 1uountmg of the eontuet relntive to its supporting hoard. .sttid eontnet unit bltllllm may he \evcred. m desired. from said hltml; \tri w \eleetixely to provide the arrangement of linen desired on the female contact simply h bending the Contact unit hlnnkw uhen Severed from the blanked strip into 11 tuhulttr configuration. thereby minimizing cost of production of female conttiets of tuhulnr type and having tit leiot three dill'erent puvihlc arrangements of tines thereon for Heleetixe pontioning ol the CUlllttCl; relative to :1 fiUPPUHlIH-I time hotud.

As a eorolltuy tn the foregoing ohjeet. it is another l jeet to form n lemtile eoutnet uhieh is substantially lettnngulur in crowseetion and open from end to end l y loldinr. the COHIHCI unit hlanks into such eonfiguitttinu Lllltl abutting the opposite edges of the blanks into contact with each other alone one side of the female CDltlZtCl and at least one tine. whith i5 split. extends from such Split side of the eonlnet. whereby. upon imertion of said split tine within a hole in the mounting hoard. separation of the iihuttiny edem of the bplit tine and .split side of the female Contact is prevented elleetivcly and inexpemively.

Details of the foregoing ohjeets and of the invention, 1h well as other objects thereof, are set forth in the fo louim: speeiliention and illustrated in the accompanying drtiuines comprising: a part thereof.

In the drztuinps:

l-ltiURl'i 1 is :t fragmentary, perspective view showing: an exemplary elem ienl s \tem embodying several ditlerent to connect the circuit means on the modules 10. which are associated with the female contacts 20.

Another important aspect of the present invention eomprises the particular construction of the female contacts 20. A number of different embodiments of such contacts are afforded by the present invention. although all of them embrace the same hasic structure. the principal differences being the arrangement of connecting tines which are provided on the different arrangements. Preferahlv. the contacts 20 are formed from resilient .shcct material. a blanked strip or ribbon being formed from such material for purposes of forming contact unit hlanlts 108. A fragmentary portion of the blanked strip Ill) is shown in FIGURE 2|, and it will be seen that small vtehs 112 connect the contact unit blanks 108 with margin strips 114.

One of the principal virtues of the contact unit hlanlts H38 is that through the special design of said blank. any one of the different types of female contacts 20. respectively shown in FIGURES 15 through 17, may he formed therefrom. thereby minimizing expense, simplification of die structure. and a saving in material.

The unit blanks [US each comprise three long parallel transverse portions of .thich the intermediate portion 116 is suhstuntially twice as uidc as the outer portions 118. The unit hlanlw I08 also comprise a pair of shorter trans'ierse portions 120. which are parallel to and intcrposed hctnecn the longer transverse portions H6 or H8, The shorter portions 120 are interconnected adjacent the opposite ends thereof to the longer transverse portions 116 and HS h short h nge sections 112. shown in FIGURE Zl, respectively adjacent opposite ends of the shorter portions Hi). There ai o are terminal strap por ions 124 esteuding hctnccn the outer and intermediate long tran \crsc p rtions 116 and 118.

After the hlanicd strip llt'l i formed. the short hinge scttions :22 adjacent one end of the shorter portions I20 are setercd h lit which are parallel to the shorter portions so as to form oppo ed spring contact tongues 126 eatcntling inward from opposite side walls of the contacts Zfl as clearly shown in HGURFS i5 through 1? him the contact unit blittllss H)? are folded or hcnt at the shor hinee sections I22 and at the opposite cuds of the fkl'flllilili trap po tions 124 to form a luhular configuration which. prcferahly. i rec angular in crosssec ion. as clearly shonn in FIGURES through 17.

The opposite ends of the outer and intermediate lone tran verse portions IE6 and H8 are provided for purposes of forming connecting or attaching tines 12B and 130. it will he een that the tines 128 are unitary. whereas the tines 10 are plit. as is the ide of the contact 110 to which the split tines 130 are connected. This split arrangcnient results from the abutting, of the side crises of the outer longitudinal lraustctsc portions H8 together. uhcreh aid ah ttinc narrower. outcr transverse portions substantially equal in \tltllll the width of the intermediate solid liausvcrsc portion 1167 The contact tongues I26 prefcrahlv are connected at one end to the female contacts adjacent the entrance end of said contacts. inaonuch as the tongues I26 estend inwardly toward each other at the unconnected ends thereof. such arrangement provides an effective guiding and centering means for the reception of the male contact tabs 24 within the longitudinal pas age 22 extending from end to end within the female contacts 20. As it sometimes is desirable to protect the male contact tabs 24 through the supporting: printed circuit board of the module to which the female contact are connected before entering the female contacts. the tines I28 and 139 are arranged to extend axially from the entrance end of the female contact. as shown in Flfjllili 15. Hoocvct. if the mate contact tabs 24. or any equivalent type of male contac are to he inserted into the female contact from th end opposite that which is connected to the print d circuit hoard, for example. then the tines I28 and I30 are arranged to c\tcnd from the end of the female con tact 20 which is opposite the entrance end, as shown in FIGURE 16.

It thus will be seen that the female contacts shoan in FIGURES l5 and 16 are both arranged to in; positioned vertically or perpendicularly with respect to the plane of the printed circuit board to which they are to he connected. lloueverv the selection of the ope of female contact respectively shown in these figures depends upon vthclhcr the male contact tah or equivalent is to he first inssrtcd through the hoard before entering the female contact or not.

To connect the female contacts 20 to a printed circuit board, the hoard is fir t provided lift an appropriate hole or opening; extending lherelhrough for the temption of the tines 12S and adjacent opposite walls of the hole or opening. foilowing which the outer ends of said tines are hcnt outwardly avtay from each other so as to clinch the saint: against the opposite surface of the hoard from which the female contacts project vertically Usually, the conductors 18 on one surface of the circuit board likeuise are apertured in axial alignment with the passage in the female contacts for purposes of having the tines 128 and 130 e\tcnd thcrethrough and when the same are clinched. they engage the conductors 18, as shown in the toner portion of FIGURE l, for example. and positive connection of said tines with said conductors is assured through the use of solder. l-"urthcr. inasmuch as the female contacts 20. preferably estend from the same surface of thimodule boards as the electrical com ponents mounted upon said hoards. as shown in e.\'cm- Plitt) manner in FIGURFS l and 2. it is possible to flow solder or dip-solder all of the lines, as well as leads from the electrical components to the conductors 18 com prisinc the printed circuits. for csamplc, upon the motiules l0, .shercht a tin -1c dipping opt-ration. for example. cliccts all conncctitms simultaneously.

The foregoing de cription pertains primarily to with cally disposed female Contacts 21. Particularly n'hcrc edge connection of moduli-s to nude contacts. or shorting hars for esantplc. i desired, as in regard to the arranpemcnt .shov-n in f'ltiURl-S I and I4. the female contact 26 must he ill\ f l ctl uith the avis of the passage therethrouph parallel to the plane of the printed circuit hoard. Accordingly. the zutxlmtc ncnt shown in llGLlRf i7 is employed under such circumstances, uheiein tines are provided which t-\tcnd from opposite ends of the female contacts. and pcrpcudicularly to the axis of the passage lhcrcthrough, hoth of said tines helm: split lines I30 hecausc they both e\ cnd from the split side of the con tact 20.

(inc of the distinct advantages of this type of female contact having one split side and at least one split tine cttcndinc tlicrcli'om is that hen the split lines are disposed in the openings in the supporting printed circuit board. the oppo ite walls of such holes or openings engape the outer edges of the split line 130 and prevent separation thereof. as \\'Cli as separation of the split side to which said split tines are connected. Another prccautionary aspect of the female contact resides in the provision of car U2. which overlie the outer surfaces of the contact tongues 1Z6 iltljtlCClll tlu. free ends thereof for purposes of limiting the outward llcvin z movement of said tongues away from each other incident to the same engaging a male contact tah. or the like. Said eats I32 are very inespensivcly fornled as a result of severing certain of the short hinge sections 12.! incident to freeing the outer ends of the toncucs 126 from the blank to which they otltcruisc are connected at the opposite ends of the tongue.

The manner in which file variousv forms of female contacts 20 are ohtaiucd from the contact unit blanks lfll'l is hcst illustrated in lltiURl'S IX through 20. wherein it uill he seen that. in IIUIlRI IS, a luoken line 134 extends transver ely across the long portions I15 and lltl.

may;

When the blank lill'i is severed alone this line. a fun le contact of the type shottn in lHrI ltl l is tormed, ln lltilltl I a broken line [36 i bunn and nhcn the blank [08 is scvcr'td alone said line. a fcnr 'lc contort of the type shonn in llLit ltl in test lt lurther. in HM- LRF, 20. short broken lines 138 are .honn only in re 'ard to the long intermediate transverse portions of the blank and when said blank it severed on these lines. a female contact of the type shown in l lft 'ltl I7 is nrrtdincd.

It thus bill be seen the htuuzrlr tir: anplc tj-spctl cnt ul sclcttrn: nlrcrc tlc ta tar c ib 'ltl tc i tettutrlidtc and outsr l rttu lr'rllt l c (it ions at; scucrctl from the contact unit l irdl-nt l lli. thr ictcnt spt rlic t.pes i lenralc cuntach l nt all nert. trl .h: same with the esccptiun of tlrt *i cltttr t' l1trL- tie prudtued. l urthcr. b\

additional P-lfllcllll dwiydhru of il cuntrrtt un t blanks 103. the spring contact tongues 126 are provided. togethcr nith the restraining cuts 132.

A till further advantage of this p uticular" type of female contact is that the pa sage there-through is open from end to end, whereby an indefinite number of such eonacts may be sandwiched or stacked upon a single con tinttous length of male contact tab or shorting bar. without interference or dittieulty. thereby permitting extremel5 compact arrangements of modules or other similar electrical units nith which the connecting system compri ing the present invention is as ociated. Further. particularly in regard to the embodiments of female contacts Shown in HGURFS l5 and t6, the connecting tines thereof are such that said contacts may be positioned at any de ired location upon a surface of a printed circuit board for a module. or otherwise. the positioning of such fcmatc contact ad acent one edge. f r example. not bc in! required. as in rega d to many conventional types of female culture's.

'lhis invention also leads itch to being empl yed t r llt: connection ul s nc to conductors I111 a printed tlr ctut board (lrtc exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention is rif tstt'ated in llGURYS 22 and 2 Referring to these figures. it ill be seen that a male contact housing H0 is ft rrned by molding from suitable synthetic re in to provide a plurality of regularly spaced sockets 142 arranged to receive llltllC contacts 144 of ctinmplcmcntwry ize to be received \tithin the female contacts 146 comprising bodies basing passages H8 extending entirety thcrethrough from end to end for purposes of slidably receiving and lrictionally engaging the male contacts H4.

The female contacts 146 preferably are identical \rith the female contacts described hcrcinabove and illustrated in the preceding figures. The tines 1S0 thereon also are for a similar purpo e to the tines 12B and 130 of aid contacts 20.

The end of the male contacts 144 opposite that which is inserted within the female contacts 146 is formed rrith .t clinch-type terminal I52 and various types of positionin ears 154 which limit the inward movement of the male contacts 144 with respect to the sockets 142. l"urthcr. a sprint! tongue I56 c ttends anrzularly outward at the free end thereof from the plane of the mate contra-ts !44 for purposes of engaging a suitabl shoulder within the ockets 142 to prevent nithdravral movement of the male contacts front the housing 140. Such arrangement provides a sim le and ell'cctive means for securely anchoring the male contacts 144 within the housing 140 and. further. likenise provides a highly effective means for connecting a trim [S8 to the male contacts, whereby a plurality of such wires 158 may be connected to the housing 140. depending upon the number of sockets 142 therein.

Although, in HGURE the housing I is .slronn in three sections. it is to be understood that it is unitary and such illustration is merely for purposes of foreshorb ening the slew in that such housing may be of substantial fill 12 length. Further. the housing is provided with a plurality of bolt-recciving holes 160. there being one exemplary bolt 162 shown extending upward from the intermediate portion of the female contact housing 164.

The female contact housing 164, as in regard to the male contact housing 140, is illustrated in fragmentary manner in FIGURE 22 to foreshorten the view thereof, and also to illustrate details of the molded sockets 166, which receive the female contacts 146. The lower surface of the female contact housing 164 is adapted to be tllsl tW Jtl again t a surface of a printed circuit board 168 that is opposite the surface thereof upon which eonductors I are mounted. The tines 150 are clinched again t the conductors I70 and preferably are soldered thereto, Adjacent the entrance end of the sockets 160. a molded shoulder I72 is formed to secure the entrance end of the female sockets 146 against upward withdrawal at the time of windrawing the male contacts I44 when housing is separated from housing Iii-4v for example.

By virtue of the female sockets 146 having a passage 148 entirely therethrnugh. as well as the particular design of the socket 166 which receives such female contacts and permits axial movement entirely through the female contact. it is possible to utilize male contacts of sub stantial length and thereby effect secure engagement thereof by the tongues 174 provided at opposite sides of the female COI'tlLcts 146. as in regard to the tongues. 126 of the female contacts 20 described hereinabove.

It also will be noted that the sockets in the male con-- tact housing 140 and sockets 166 in the female contact housing [64. are di posed in a staggered arrangement. particularly to facilitate the connecting of the tines 150 \titlr adjacent conlucttus as is esrxcially evident from FIGURE 2.1. fly such an arrangement. a compact positioning of the sockets and contacts with respect to each other for a itiveo linear length of the housings I40 and 164 is possible.

From the forcr-ning. it will be seen that the present invention provides a highly ellcctive. yet very simple. arrangement of male contacts which may be plugged through a printed circuit card or board. for example. into it female contact which has a passage thcrethrough from end to end. vrhcrebv substantially unlimited stacking of printed circuit boards. for example. is pos ible if male contacts of appropriate area. a relatively low cost module system is possible. imply by mounting the electrical components of the modules directly upon the surface of the printed Circuit boards opposite that surface upon which the conductors are placed, Fur her. by arranging the securing tines of the female conductors so as to be clinched again t the conductor surface of the printed cir cuit board, the female contacts. as well as the leads from the various electrical components. all may be effectively ecured to the conductors of the printed circuit board by dip or flowsoldering. thereby minimizing cost.

Unique constructions also are provided in both the male and female contacts. The male contact. e sentially comprising a stamping formed from sheet metal in arranpements generally resembling an ll-sbape. designed st) that it is possible to expand certain of the prongs comprising the opposite ends of the sides of the H-shaped male contact, even only leaving one tab of the male CUH tact projecting, if the circuit arrangements require this. My eliminating the labs projecting from one edge of the transverse bar of the male contacts, a U-shaped male contact result. Various other configurations and arrangements obviously are possible, as illustrated in cer tain figures of the drawings and described in detail herein above.

Regarding the female contacts. at least three different arrangements are made possible from a single type of relatively inexpensive contact unit blank formed in a blanked strip. Simply by severing the contact unit blanks from the margin strips of the blanked strip. the

individual contact unit blanks may be suitably arranged through selected severing, particularly to form the connecting tines either at one end or the other of the female contact, or with both tines extending laterally from the same side, but at opposite ends of the contact, thereby affording substantial latitude for the formation of a selected range of female contacts from a single pattern of contact unit blanks.

[While the invention has been described and illustrated in its several preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the precise details herein illustrated and described since the same may be carried out in other ways falling within the scope of the invention as claimed] What is claimed is:

1. A blanked strip from which female contacts are to be formed having a longitudinal socket passage therethrough from end to end and a plurality of tines selectively extending either from opposite sides of the same end or opposite ends of the same side of said contact, depending upon how contact unit blanks of said blanked strip are severed therefrom. said blanked strip comprising a continuous ribbon of resilient metal stamped to provide a pair of spaced margin strips at opposite edges of the ribbon. and contact unit blanks extending between and connected at opposite ends to said margin strips. said contact unit blank each comprising a series of three long parallel transverse Ol'li Ds connected at the ends thereof to said margin strip the intermediate portion being sub stantially twice as wide as the outermost portions of each series. and a pair of shorter transverse portions parallel to said other transverse portions and interposed respec tively between said intermediate and outermost transverse ortions and connected thereto by short hinge sections constituting the corners of said socket when said contact unit blanks inc severed from said strips and bent into tubular cont? uration. the ends of said shorter transverse portions being spaced from and unconnected to said side strips. whereby when said transverse portions selectively are severed at predetermined distances from said side strips, contact unit blanks are formed which may be fu!ded at said hinge sections to provide a rectangular tubular ocket-type female contact having sides comprising said long and shorter transver e portions and the projecting ends of said long tran verse portions forming tines connectable to a circuit board to hold said contact thereon either perpendicularly or parallel thereto. depending upon how said tines are disposed relative to the contact when formed.

2. The blanked strip set forth in claim 1 further characterized by the fact that when the ends of the long transverse portions f said contact unit blanks adjacent one of said margin strips are all severed uniform distances from said one margin strip substantially evenly with the adjacent end of the shorter transverse portions. female contacts are provided which when bent into tubular configuration have tines only at one end for connecting said contacts at said end perpendicularly to a circuit board.

3. The blanked strip set forth in claim 1 further characterized by the fact that when the opposite ends of said intermediate long portions of said contact unit blanks are both severed substantially in alignment with the ends of the shorter transverse portions and the ends of the outer most long transverse portions are severed nearer the margin strip female contacts are provided which have tines at opposite ends of one side only thereof for connecting said contacts to a circuit board with the axis of said female Contact parallel thereto.

4. The blanked strip set forth in claim 3 further characterized by said one side of said contacts being composed of the two outermost transverse portions of the contact unit blank in abutting engagement. whereby said tines on said female contacts will be split similarly to said one tilde.

5. The blanked strip set forth in claim I further characterized by said shorter transverse portions when severed at one end from the hinge sections being bendable to form spring contact tongues at opposite sides of said female contact.

6. The blanked strip set forth in claim 2 further churacterized by the shorter transverse portions when severed from the hinge sections farthest from the entrance end of the female contact when formed being bendable to form spring contact tongues connected to opposite sides of the female contact adjacent the entrance end of the contact. thereby serving as guide means to center the male contact tabs when being received within said female contacts.

7. The blanked strip set forth in claim 5 further char acterized by the portions of the hinge sections Stlvcfttl from said tongue-forming transver e portions being licnd able to overlie the tongues to provide movemenbrcstraining ears.

8. A blanked strip from which female contacts are to be formed having a longitudinal socket passage tbercthrough from end to end. said blanked strip comprising a continuous ribbon of resilient metal stamped to provide a pair of spaced margin strips at opposite edges of the ribbon, and contact unit blanks extending bctwccn and connected at opposite ends to said margin strip said on tact unit blanks each comprising a series of three lung parallel transverse portions. at least one said portion being connected at the ends thereof to said margin strips the interrncdiatae porti n being substantially twice as wide as the outermost portions of each series. and a pair of shorter transverse portions parallel to said other transverse por tions and interposed respectively between said intermediate and outermost transverse portions and connected thereto by short binge sections constituting the corners of said socket when said contact unit blanks are severed from said strips and bent into tubular configuration. th ends of said shorter transverse portions being spaced from and unconnected to said side strips.

9. A blanked strip from bich female contacts are in be formed having: a longitudinal socket passage liltl'l. through from end to end. said blanked strip compri ing a plurality of contact unit blanks joined together by a strip of resilient metal. each said Contact unit blank comprising a series of three long parallel transverse portions. the intermediate portion eing substantially twice as wide its the outermost portions of each series. and pair of shorter transverse portions parallel to said other transverse poi" lions and interposed respectively between said inte mediate and outermost transverse portions and connected thereto by short hinge sections constituting the corners of said socket when said contact unit blanks lll' severed from said strips and bent into tubular configuration.

10. A blanked strip from which fcinnlc contacts are to be formed having a longitudinal socket assage therethrough from end to end. said blanked strip comprisinzr a plurality of contact unit blanks. each said blank being joined to its adjacent blank by a strip of resilient material. said blanks comprising a series of three long purnllrl portiorts. the intermediate portion being substantially twice as wide as the outermost portions of each series. and a pair of shorter portions parallel to said other parallel por lions and interposed respectively between said intermediate and outermost parallel portions and connected thereto by short binge sections constituting the corners of sllid socket when said contact unit blanks arc severed from said strips and bcttt into tubular configuration.

I], A blanked strip from which ft'llltlit r'rmttntv my to he formed having a longitudinal socket mutter HUM- !ltrrmr-h from Hit] in Mm. suit! Nan/(mi strip rrunpris'int' (I plurality of contact unit Hunks, Foch .vtliu' Hunk fninc infirm] In its drift/(mil Mun/r Irv rr strip of rnrilr'rnl mult'litrl'. mid hlrmltxv rmtlpririnr' o .rrrir-s of tfm'r- [tutu pumil'ti portions, the inlrrmt'rit'otr portion lu ing .vnt'wluntinil v wider than {Fm (mtrwmsl pot-(four in r-iliit sci-it's. um! (1 pair of shorter portions pm'uilrl in will long pundit! um firms and interposed Harper-lively iwtnr't'n .ruirl iutt'rrm'tli 2,799,237? 7 1 57 Martincs HUM- 29-1915 XR 2,802,195 8/1957 Murtines U 29--i93.5 XR 187L551 2/195) Harris M Z9--'l-)3.5

3,891,304 6/195) (Iulvin V V 29-39!) RIFHARD O. DEAFL Primary Examiner 

